The Virginia Wrage Memorial Scholarship
This Scholarship is awarded to mature women, for vocational educational purposes, to achieve emotional, social, and economic independence following a life-altering event.
The Virginia Wrage Memorial Scholarship was created to honor Virginia Wrage, a dedicated and loved Zontian, who at the age of 50 faced a family crisis that resulted in a major career change for her. After she was diagnosed with cancer two years later, she helped plan a fund that would assist other mature women who faced challenges as she had. Since 1995, the fund has provided over $200,000 dollars in awards to local women 40 years of age or older in life transition. Today Virginia’s friends, family and colleagues continue to support this exceptional program.
About the Scholarship
The Virginia Wrage Memorial Scholarship is awarded to mature women, for vocational educational purposes, to achieve emotional, social, and economic independence following a life-altering event. Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley offers scholarships to cover all or part of an educational degree, or career and technical training from $1,000 to $4,000.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for a scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a woman age 40 years or older
- Be a resident of the greater Santa Clarita Valley
- Have experienced a life-altering event resulting in a need for educational, career and/or technical training to improve your life
- Previous applicants who were not selected may apply again
What are the requirements?
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Completion of the official application
- Applicants must be residents of the greater Santa Clarita Valley including Castaic, Val Verde, Stevenson Ranch, Westridge, FivePointe Valenca, Agua Dulce
- Must be age 40 years or older at time of application submission
- Demonstrated initiative, ambition and commitment to obtaining schooling or training to improve your life with gainful employment.
- Provide proof of enrollment and transcripts (if currently enrolled)
Meet the 2026 Scholarship Awardees!
FANELLA HIGGINS
In the midst of Covid, Fanella's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Finding herself the main caregiver, she also struggled with communicating with medical resources, not to mention her mom due to Covid restrictions. Unfortunately, her mom passed quickly without the comfort of her family around her. In her own words, Fanella says: "Her death changed me in ways I am still discovering. I was forced into a position of strength I did not know I had, but it also opened my eyes to how fragile and precious life truly is. Losing my mother taught me that life is uncertain and time is not guaranteed. Because of her, I have learned to make choices that honor both my future and the life I want to live."
Toward that end, Fanella is balancing the demands of a single mother of 3 and embarking on her goal of becoming an RN specializing in neonatal care. With our scholarship, Zonta hopes to help her find the caring future she wants to live.
YANYAN OUYANG
As recent immigrants to the United States, Yanyan, her husband and 2 children have found living the "American Dream" a very big hill to climb. Struggling with English as a 2nd language, loss of her husband's military career due to disability and a bout of homelessness, it became clear to Yanyan that retooling and building on her education and strengths was the only way to succeed in making the US their home.
As an Art student at College of the Canyons, she is working on developing both technical skills and enhancing her creative abilities to enter the design field.
Understanding how difficult it must be to start a new life in a strange country and navigate the needs of family, study and working; Zonta is only too happy to award this scholarship to Yanyan to help her on her way.
MARTHA
Martha's courage and perseverance is evident in where she is today. Despite losing a beloved child in a boating accident, surviving an abusive marriage and a bout of homelessness, when she chose to take her children from such a destructive environment, Martha is determined to achieve her goal of becoming an attorney.
Martha graduated with her associate's degree in 2025 at COC. Now, as a Cal LAW Pathways participant, she is continuing her journey in paralegal studies and certification to support herself and family as she transfers to a 4 year university to obtain a BA in Political Science and eventually go on to law school. She hopes to practice family law to help other survivors of domestic violence find the help, confidence and financial stability to start again as she has. Zonta is glad this scholarship provides the support for Martha that Virginia Wrage envisioned. It's never too late to start again!
JENNYFER STEVENS
Jennyfer is all about family as you can see from her cheering section here tonight! So, it was doubly hard to lose her mother and an adopted son very close together. But it was this same family that required her to find the courage, despite her grief, to keep going. She began her own cleaning business and grew it to the point that she wanted to be and give more. Toward that end, she began her educational journey to become a clinical Psychologist in the hopes she can help others who have experienced life's challenges.
Jennyfer will be completing her AA in Psychology from COC and has been accepted to Channel Islands SCU Bachelor of Psychology Program. However, with a family of 7 and working her business, there never seems enough time or money for her education. Zonta is happy to give this scholarship to Jennyfer to allow her more time and resources for her education. As a Single Mothers Outreach Alumni and volunteer, we couldn't support a better role model for others.
KELLY GARFALA
As a Cancer survivor, Kelly learned the hard way that life comes with no guarantees. After putting her desires and goals gladly aside to raise and educate her children, Kelly's cancer experience pushed her to reach goals she thought were too late to achieve. Kelly has her LVN license but had always dreamed of becoming an RN. But now she has a mission to work in the Oncology field to help other cancer patients as she was supported on her journey back to health. She is no stranger to hard work as illustrated by completing her final semester at COC with an Associate's degree and Bachelor's degree in nursing simultaneously. All this while still working as an LVN. Her next steps are to find work in an ER or ICU setting and ultimately achieve Nurse Practitioner certification and practice in an Oncology setting.
Kelly, we are proud to help you achieve such an exciting goal and know you will be there to provide that level of care to others you found so inspiring.
Want to help more women change their lives?
Virginia Wrage was a dedicated and loved Zontian, mother, and grandmother who, at the age of 50, faced a family crisis that resulted in a major career change for her. Virginia applied for, and after a rigorous nine-month course, fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a flight attendant for American Airlines.
Two years later, Virginia was diagnosed with cancer. Before her death, she helped plan a fund that would assist other mature women through challenges such as those she faced.
Since its inception in 1995, the Virginia Wrage Memorial Fund has aided more than 50 women with scholarships ranging from $500 to $4000.
Many recipients are returning to school at mid-life to be able to support themselves and their children. Some are victims of domestic abuse. Some are single mothers. Some are struggling to complete G.E.D.s or college degrees. Some are on the verge of becoming homeless. All are facing a difficult life challenge.
Each year, the Virginia Wrage Memorial Fund provides scholarships to deserving women in the Santa Clarita Valley community. The members of Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley are honored to be able to assist these women in the name of Virginia Wrage.
What Recipients Have Said:
"My dream is to use my gifts and talents to encourage, stimulate and motivate a thinking society."
"Every woman needs support and you are a tremendous blessing to each of us."
"My dreams include philanthropy and to support those in need and to give back in appreciation for what I have been so fortunate to receive."
"Thank you for seeing in me an example of the woman that Ms. Wrage wished to support."
"It was a big inspiration that someone believed in me when I was having a hard time believing in myself."
"Definitely, receiving this money and reading your letter empower and motivate me to keep going. You let me know that it is worth the effort and that it is valued."
"It's overwhelming to be back in the workforce at 48, but it's more common than I ever realized. Thanks to this grant, I believe I'll do better than just survive."
"I'm a UCLA Graduate. I never anticipated going into hiding, food stamps and homelessness"
"It was darn hard, with six kids. But I want my kids to know that you have to go get what you want. It's not going to come to you."
"You are a wonderful support emotionally, and I hope to make you proud."
Oh my goodness!!! Thank you so much and a million times over! I can't wait to share the news with my family. I am filled with gratitude.
I can't thank the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita enough for this opportunity. The news made me cry, a good cry.
